San Marcos Public Library

The Romance Revival

by Christina Lauren

Kirkus A marriage on the rocks gets a second chance—with a science-fiction twist. Dr. Emery Martín is happily married to her husband Luca…mostly. She’s been madly in love with him since the moment they met, but in the three years they’ve been wed, she hasn’t been able to focus much on him. To the world—including Luca—Emery’s job involves developing medical-grade lasers. In reality, she works at a supersecret San Diego lab that’s engineering a compound to bring mammals back from the dead. Although Emery doesn’t want to admit it, she can tell that Luca feels pushed aside, but she believes so deeply in her work that she has a hard time leaving the lab. When Emery is late for dinner—yet again—on their anniversary, she rushes home only to see Luca get hit by a car. She has the secret compound in her car, and she knows she could get in major trouble if she uses it—but what’s she supposed to do,not save her husband’s life? The compound has only been tested on animals so far, and there’s no guarantee it will even work for humans. It does, though, and Luca comes back to life—with one small caveat. He can’t remember most things, including his marriage to Emery. After almost losing Luca, Emery is now grateful for what she has, and she’s determined to show him that she can be a better, more attentive partner. While Luca may not remember her, their magnetic chemistry is still there. This may be the do-over they needed to save their marriage—that is, if Emery can keep the life-reviving measures she took hidden from everyone around them, including nosy neighbors and her own company. Lauren—the pen name of the duo behind rom-coms likeThe Paradise Problem (2024)—has created a unique hook that feels genuinely refreshing. Emery and Luca’s unconventional second chance is emotionally compelling, and the slight thriller edge as Emery tries to cover up her actions keeps the pages turning. An extremely fun, fast-paced, and unusual addition to the marriage-in-trouble romance canon. Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Library Journal Everyone was surprised when workaholic Emery married carefree Luca after a whirlwind romance, but three years later, the couple is still as happy as ever—for the most part. Emery is wrapped up in her job, which is so top-secret that even Luca doesn't know what she does, and constantly works until all hours of the night, not realizing that happy-go-lucky Luca might not be as happy about this arrangement as he lets on. After she misses their anniversary dinner to present her groundbreaking research, Emery tells herself that she'll finally give Luca the truth about her work, only for an accident to put Luca's life in jeopardy. When she breaks the strict rules of her job to save Luca, she never expects that he'll lose his memory in the process, but it gives her a surprising chance to repair their relationship and start over from scratch for a second chance at true love. VERDICT While some of the thriller elements fall flat, the dialog is engaging, and Lauren's (The Paradise Problem) longtime fans and new readers alike will cheer for Emery and Luca to find their way back to each other in this well-paced, engaging rom-com.—Whitney Kramer

Publishers Weekly Bestseller Lauren, the pen name for writing partners Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings (Tangled Up in You), delivers tender vulnerability and meaningful character growth in this sweetly spicy romance. Dr. Emery Martín has it all: a job at a biomedical company that allows her to follow her passion; a fierce best friend in veterinarian Annie; and a husband, Luca, who perfectly balances her out. But due to the top secret nature of her work developing technology that, she hopes, might have prevented the deaths of her parents, she’s forced to keep things from Luca, straining their marriage. Then Luca dies and a desperate Emery uses the experimental procedure she’s developed to bring him back. It works—but he doesn’t remember anything about their life together. For such an intense setup, the ensuing romance is surprisingly fluffy as Emery gets a second chance to be the partner she wishes she could have been and build a better, stronger relationship with Luca. As they endearingly rediscover the chemistry and love that brought them together in the first place, they’re able to grow both as people and as a couple. Readers hoping for a more high-octane plot involving Emery’s secret lab work may be disappointed by how little is done with it, but it’s impossible not to root for this devoted couple. Luca and Emery are adorable. (July)

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